Blazers in Brandon for Game Tonight
December 16, 2015 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kamloops Blazers News Release
CHRISTMAS IS COMING: The Kamloops Blazers franchise is in their 35th season in the Western Hockey League and the 32nd season as the Kamloops Blazers. The Blazers are fourth in the B.C. Division and 7th in the Western Conference with a 15-10-3-1 record this season. The hockey club has played only 29 games this season, which is the lowest in the WHL. The Blazers schedule will pick up in the second half as they play 14 games in January and 14 more in February. The Blazers have started a six-game road trip with wins in Saskatoon, Prince Albert and Regina the past few days. Following tonight's game the Blazers will travel to Moose Jaw for a game on Friday night. The trip will end in Swift Current on Saturday, December 19th. The Blazers will return after the Christmas break with a home game on December 27th against Kelowna.
Vs. Brandon - Last Season (1-Game Series)
Game 1: 10/24/14, vs. Brandon 8, Kamloops 5
Blazers were 0-1-0-0 in season series
Vs. Brandon - This Season (1-Game Series)
Game 1: 12/16/15, at Brandon, Kamloops
Blazers are 0-0-0-0 in season series
ROSTER BREAKDOWN: The Blazers roster currently sits at 23 players (2 goaltenders, 8 defensemen and 13 forwards). The roster includes 12 players selected in the WHL Bantam Draft, six players via trade, three players from the free agent list, and two players selected from the CHL Import Draft. The roster breakdown by region includes 10 players from B.C., four from Alberta, five from Saskatchewan, one from Manitoba, one from USA, one from Slovakia, and one from Czech Republic. There are 16 WHL veterans on the roster and seven WHL rookies.
BY THE NUMBERS: Matt Needham is the Blazers longest tenured player first suiting up for the hockey club during the 2010-11 season and has played 277 career games with the Blazers... Ryan Rehill is 17th all-time on the Blazers penalty minute list with 470 career minutes... Matt Needham collected his 200th career point with an assist on November 27th in Prince George... Collin Shirley recorded his 100th career WHL point with a goal on October 21st versus Victoria... Matt Revel recorded his 100th career WHL point with an assist versus Victoria on October 21st... Collin Shirley recorded his first career 5-point game versus Prince George on November 15th... Gage Quinney recorded his first career WHL hat-trick versus Prince George on November 15th...
THE MATCH UP: The Blazers and Wheat Kings are meeting for the only time this season tonight. These two teams last met in Kamloops in on October 24, 2014 with the Wheat Kings outscoring the Blazers 8-5. The last time the Blazers were in Brandon was December 10, 2013 with the Wheat Kings winning 5-2 over the Blazers. Nick Chyzowski had an assist for the Blazers in the loss.
KAMLOOPS BLAZERS 'Who to Watch': The Kamloops Blazers forwards are led by veteran players Matt Needham (8+18&), Deven Sideroff (8+13!), Collin Shirley (21+189) and Gage Quinney (14+237) Matt Revel (9+14#). Quinney was acquired from the Kelowna Rockets in October. Needham, Shirley and Revel are all players entering their fourth or fifth seasons in the WHL. Nick Chyzowski (8+5) is in his third WHL season and has provided secondary scoring in a more prominent role. Jake Kryski (4+12) and Quinn Benjafield (3+8) are entering their second seasons as 17-year-olds. They have proved to be regular contributors. Matt Campese (3+3=6) has stepped into a larger role this season moving up and down the line-up. Jermaine Loewen (3+3=6) still has time to grow and develop. Garrett Pilon (9+11 ), Spencer Bast (2+3=5) and Erik Miller (0+1=1) are all entering their first seasons with the hockey club. Pilon has been terrific as a versatile player. Ryan Rehill (3+12) is the elder statesmen in his fourth and final season in the WHL. Dallas Valentine (1+8=9) was acquired from Moose Jaw in October. He has given the hockey club a veteran presence. 19-year-old import Patrik Maier (2+1=3) is in his second season with the hockey club. He is currently unavailable as he participates in Team Slovakia's Under-20 camp for the World Junior Championships in Finland. Cam Reagan (0+2=2) had limited ice time last season, but has started to play regularly this year. Dawson Davidson (4+15) has impressed as a 17-year-old playing well at both ends of the ice. Ondrej Vala (3+6=9) is the hockey club's newest import player from the Czech Republic. The 17-year-old possesses size at 6'4" and a solid two way game. Nolan Kneen (1+4=5) and Conner McDonald (0+1=1) are a pair of 16-year-olds that are in their first season of patrolling the backend this season. In goal, Connor Ingram solidified himself as the Blazers starter last season and the 18-year-old is continuing his strong. Dylan Ferguson has earned the back-up role and the 17-year-old has impressed in his opportunities this season.
BRANDON WHEAT KINGS 'Who to Watch': The Wheat Kings are a veteran team, but are missing some players due to the World Junior Championships. Jayce Hawryluk and John Quenneville are both 19-year-olds in their fourth WHL seasons. They both have 33 points and are at Canada's World Junior camp. Both players are second round NHL picks. Nolan Patrick is an elite 17-year-old who leads the team in scoring with 38 points. He will be an early pick in the 2017 NHL Draft. Reid Duke is a stand out 19-year-old with 16 goals that plays hard. Tanner Kaspick is a 17-year-old with 10 goals and impressive at both ends of the ice. Tim McGauley is a 20-year-old signed by the Washington Capitals. He is at a point-per-game pace and is the reigning Eastern Conference Player of the Year. Tyler Coulter is a 19-year-old experienced player with 16 points. Stelio Matheos is an impressive 16-year-old who is a former first overall pick. Braylon Shmyr and Ty Lewis are players that will contribute. Duncan Campbell is a local Brandon product. Linden McCorrister, Connor Gutenburg and Garrett Armour are other forwards on the roster. On defense, Ivan Provorov is a first round NHL pick but is with Russia at the World Junior Championships. Macoy Erkamps is a tough 20-year-old who is the Wheat Kings captain. He plays hard and has 29 points. Colton Waltz is a steady 20-year-old with 14 points this season. Jordan Thomson is a former Blazer who was recently acquired by the Swift Current Broncos and is on his fourth WHL team. Kale Clague is a solid 17-year-old, who is impressive to watch. Mark Matsuba and James Shearer round out the backend. In goal, Jordan Papirny is in his third WHL season, but has struggled at times this season. Logan Thompson is in his second stint with the Wheat Kings and has put up good numbers this season.
NHL DRAFT: Ryan Rehill (New Jersey, 5th round, 131st overall in 2014), Deven Sideroff (Anaheim, 3rd round, 84th overall in 2015).
INJURY REPORT: None. Man games lost due to injury - 36.
DID YOU KNOW... Don Hay is 2nd in franchise history behind Ken Hitchcock (291) with 186 career regular season wins... Hay is 2nd all-time in WHL history behind Ken Hodge (742) with 651 regular season wins... Stu MacGregor took over as the Blazers General Manager on October 13th as Craig Bonner stepped down to become a Pro Scout with the Dallas Stars... Gage Quinney was acquired from the Kelowna Rockets on October 14th in exchange for a 3rd round draft pick... Forwards Collin Shirley and Deven Sideroff played for Team WHL at the CHL Canada Russia Series... Shirley had a team leading five points and Sideroff had two points in two games... Defenseman Nolan Kneen played for Canada's Under-17 National Team at the Under-17 World Hockey Challenge in Fort St. John and Dawson Creek in October/November... Forward Deven Sideroff won a Bronze Medal with Canada's Under-18 National team in Switzerland this past April... Defenseman Ryan Rehill (New Jersey), Forward Deven Sideroff (Anaheim), and goaltender Connor Ingram (Detroit) all attended NHL training camps in September... Kamloops hosted the second game of the CHL Canada vs. Russia Series on November 10th with Team WHL beating Team Russia 4-2... Jermaine Loewen was born in Jamaica and has only been playing hockey for seven years... Matt Needham's father Mike played for the Blazers from 1986-1990... Nick Chyzowski's father Dave played for the Blazers from 1987-1990... Patrik Maier is with Team Slovakia for the Under-20 World Junior Championships in Finland.
Western Hockey League Stories from December 16, 2015
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- Pats Sign Riley Bruce - Regina Pats
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- Wheat Kings Host Blazers Tonight - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Blazers in Brandon for Game Tonight - Kamloops Blazers
- Mark Rassell Clutch in a 2-1 Victory Tuesday - Medicine Hat Tigers
- B.C. Hockey Fans Score Big on Ticket Deals with BCAA and Western Hockey League Partnership - WHL
- Blazers Hold on for 4-3 Win over Pats - Kamloops Blazers
- Tri-City Fends off Portland 6-4 - Tri-City Americans
- Cougars Chase Down T-Birds - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Oil Kings Drop Third Straight to Medicine Hat - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Rebels Win 4-2 in Cranbrook - Red Deer Rebels
- Winterhawks Fall 6-4 in Tri-Cities Tuesday - Portland Winterhawks
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